Excavating apparatus and method



Oct. 13, 1964 s. 1.. Ross EXCAVATING APPARATUS AND METHOD Filed Jan. 15, 1962 Q 3 L A INVENTOR. SIGMU N D L. ROSS QJMQQZQJZ A TTORIV United States Patent O 3,152,651 EXCAVATING APPARATUS AND METHOD Sigmund L. Ross, 2761 Sedgewick Ave., Bronx, N.Y. Filed Jan. 15, 1962, Ser. No. 166,064 Claims. (Cl. 175-11) This invention relates to apparatus and method for excavating earth from the ground, and more particularly concerns an apparatus and method which utilize highpressure, high-temperature, superheated steam as a drilling medium in exacavation work to drill foundations, oil wells, water wells, tunnels, mines, and the like.

It is an object of this invention to provide improved apparatus and method for excavating earth from the ground.

Other objects and advantages of this invention, includ ing its simplicity and economy, will further become apparent hereinafter and in the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a view in side elevation of excavating apparatus constructed in accordance with this invention;

FIG. 2 is a view intop plan of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a view on an enlarged scale and partly cut away of a jetter which forms an element of the invention.

Although specific terms are used in the following description for clarity, these terms are intended to refer only to the structure shown in the drawings and are not intended to define or limit the scope of the invention.

Turning now to the specific embodiment of the invention selected for illustration in the drawings, there is shown excavating apparatus which comprises a trailer truck 11 having mounted thereon a steam system including (connected in series) a water pump 12, a water tank 13, a deaerator 14, a boiler 15, a superheater 16, and a pair of jetter nozzles 17 of jetter 18; a fuel system including a fuel tank 21; and a liquid nitrogen system including (connected in series) a liquid nitrogen tank 22, a cryogenic pump 23, and a jetter nozzle 24 of jetter 18.

A jetter cradle 25, and a hoist 26 are also mounted on trailer truck 11; cradle 25 supports jetters 18 when it is not being used, and hoist 26 moves the jetter 18 as desired. letter 18 is provided with an excavation line 27 which has two lower branches 28 and 29.

A hoist 32 may raise and lower jetter 18 when it is being used to perform its excavating function.

The steam system is connected together in series by intake pipe 33 which leads to pump 12, pipe 34 which extends between pump 12 and water tank 13, pipe 35 extending between water tank 13 and deaerator 14 and including a valve 36, pipe 37 connecting deaerator 14 to boiler 15, pipe 38 connecting boiler 15 to superheater 16 and having a valve 41, and conduit 42 (which may be flexible piping) extending between superheater 16 and steam nozzle 17 of jetter 18.

A return pipe 43 connects conduit 42 to water tank 13 and is used when desired to convey steam from superheater 16 to water tank 13 to preheat the water. Pipe 43 is provided with a valve 44 which is connected by a pipe 45 to a valve 46 in conduit 42.

' The liquid nitrogen system is connected together in series by a pipe 47 which extends between liquid nitrogen tank 22 and cryogenic pump 23 and is provided with a valve 48, and a conduit 51 which connects pump 23 to jetter nozzle 24 of jetter 18.

Nozzles 17 and 24, and lower branches 28, 29 of excaice vation line 27 are encased Within a jetter casing 52 and are held in proper position by spacing plate 53.

In operation, jetter 18 is suspended by hoist 32 so that its outer casing 52 rests flush against the earth. Steam is run through steam conduit 42 at low pressure to the nozzles 17 which are located about six inches above the surface of the ground. This initial steam does not have much pressure or velocity and its only function at this stage is to heat the soil and then seek its way up the two four-inch excavation branch lines 28, 29 which flank steam conduit 42. Excavation line 27 is closed at this time since valve 54 is shut off. Thus, as the steam rises in evacuation line 27, steam pressure is built up until the pressure in evacuation line 27 rises to within the range of to 250 p.s.i.g. Then evacuation line valve 54 is opened, and steam at operation temperatures and pressures ranging between 500 and 900 F. superheated, and between 600 and 950 p.s.i.g., surges out of superheater 16 through conduit 42 to nozzles 17.

The steam being released from evacuation line 27 creates a temporary vacuum at the bottom of jetter 18 at the entrance to evacuation branch lines 28 and 29. The task of the vacuum is to tear up the face of the ground. Then the main steam force is ejected from nozzles 17 and directed toward the ground. The steam tears into the earth to gouge out particles of soil and whip the detrital matter upwardly through evacuation branch lines 28 and 29.

Now, jetter 18 beigns to penetrate into the soil because of its weight. Suspension cables 55 from hoist 32 are always taut and pull on jetter cables 56 to hold jetter 18 upright so that the jetter enters the ground straight and plumb.

As the high pressure, high temperature, superheated steam strikes, it afiects the ground in a number of ways. First, the earth expands because of the heat being directed upon it. Second, moisture contained in voids in the earth is flashed into additional steam in the myriad interstices existing in the soil. These interstices or capillaries collapse, thus ejecting the steam which rips and tears its way up to the ground, carrying particles of soil with it. Breaking out of the surface of the ground, the steam (together with the particles of soil suspended in it) whips about and thereby further erodes the face of the ground, crashing into larger chunks of earth and breaking them into pieces.

This additional steam, aided by the steam issuing from steam jet nozzle 17, lifts the now loose detrital matter suspended in it up and through the evacuation lines 28 and 29 to discharge through evacuation line 27.

Third, because of the weight of the steam being ejected through nozzle 17 and the velocity at which it is traveling, the steam delivers a series of smashing blows to the soil. These blows have an intensity of upwards of 650 pounds per second. The impact of the steam against the soil face gouges out chunks of material and sends these chunks crashing about to strike the surface of the soil, the jetter casing 52, the spacing plate 53, and each other. The result is that the material is broken into small particles. Moreover, since these particles are flying about in the presence of superheated steam, the moisture in the particles is vaporized into steam which expands and reduces the cohesive character of the soil, thus permitting an almost complete breakdown of the soil particles.

When a type of soil known as hardpan is encountered, or when rock is reached, or when it otherwise is found desirable, liquid nitrogen is used. letter 18 continues to play steam through nozzles 17 against the rock, for example, and the rock face expands due to the heat. Additionally, vibratory stresses are set up, which are caused by the terrific impact of the steam against the rock (at more than 650 pounds per second). After about three minutes, jetter 18 is elevated in the excavated shaft 57 .to'a distance of about twice the normal diameter of the excavation. Then liquid nitrogen is pumped through jetter 18 (through nozzle 24) against the face of the rock.

Liquid nitrogen is a non-explosive gas or liquid and is completely inert. It exists as a liquid at minus 321 F.

Liquid nitrogen at about minus 321 F. strikes the rock face which has been heated to between 600 and 900 F. The rock undergoes a thermal shock in a fraction of a second, and the intensity of the shock is such that stresses approaching and sometimes equal to one million pounds per square inch are set up in the rock. The result is an almost complete pulverization of the rock. face. The thermal shockwhich the rock undergoes on contact with the liquid nitrogen produces a deep shattering effect.

The liquid nitrogen has another effect on the rock. Rock is a crystallization of material, and a side effect of the striking of the rock by liquid nitrogen is to increase locally the crystallization. This ilocal crystallization aids the deep shattering effect of the cold shock, so that when steam is reapplied, the local crystallized areas undergo thermal shock.

In the above described manner, rock, hardpan, and the like are pulverized and removed by utilizing combined high-pressure, high-temperature superheated steam and liquid nitrogen. letter 18, in this fashion, penetrates even the hardest granite at the rate of between ten to twenty feet per hour.

It is to be understood that the form of the invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a presently preferred embodiment. Various changes may be made in the shape, size and arrangement of parts. For example, equivalent elements may be substituted for those illustrated and described herein, parts may be reversed, and certain features of the invention may be utilized independently of the use of other features, all without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as defined in the subjoined claims.

The claimed invention:

1. A method of excavating with an apparatus including an elongated casing, a nozzle adjacent one end of said casing and an evacuation line having an inlet adjacent said one end, said excavating method comprising the steps of resting said one end of said casing against the ground, then heating the ground in the vicinity of said one end by directing steam at low pressure and velocity at said ground, then building the pressure in said evacuation line to a value of between about 150 and 250 p.s.i'.g., then directing superheated steam at the ground from said nozzle at operating temperatures and pressures ranging between about 500 to 900 F. and between about 600 to 950 p.-s.i.g., releasing the steam through said evacuation line to thereby create a temporary vacuum at said one end of said casing to aid in tearing up the face of the ground and gouging particles of soil from the earth, and removing the particles of soil by passing them upwardly through said evacuation line, and then penetrating the excavation caused by such soil removal with said one end of the casing by allowing said casing to sink of its own weight farther and farther into the ground as said excavation is deepened by the removal of soil particles.

2. A method of excavating with an apparatus includan elongated casing, a nozzle adjacent one end of said casing and an evacuation line having an inlet adjacent said one end, said excavating method comprising the steps of resting said one end of said casing against the ground, then heating the ground in the vicinity of said one end by directing steam at low pressure and velocity at said ground, then building the pressure in said evacuation line to a value of between about and 250 p.s.i.g., then directing superheated steam at the ground from said nozzle at operating temperatures and pressures ranging between about 50.0. to 9.00 F. and between about 600 and 950 p.s.i.g. for a period of time of the order of magnitude of about three minutes, then discontinuing the direction of steam from said nozzle and passing a cryogenic fluid outward away from said one end of said casing, then creating a temporary vacuum in said evacuation line at said one end of said casing to aid in tearing up the face of the ground and gouging particles of soil from the earth, and removing the particles of soil by passing them upwardly through said evacuation line and then penetrating the excavation caused by such soil removal with said one end of the casing by allowing said casing to sink of its own weight farther and farther into the ground as said excavation is deepened by the removal of soil particles.

3. A method of excavating with an apparatus including an elongated casing, a nozzle adjacent one end of said casing and an evacuation line having an inlet adjacent said one end, said excavating method comprising the steps of resting said one end of said casing against the ground, then heating the ground in the vicinity of said one end by directing steam at low pressure and velocity at said ground, then building a substantial positive pressure in said evacuation line, directing superheated steam under pressure at the ground, releasing the steam from Within said casing through said evacuation line to thereby create a temporary vacuum at said one end of said casing to aid in tearing up the face of the ground and gouging the particles of soil from the earth, and removing the particles of soil by passing them upwardly through said evacuation line, and then penetrating the evacuation caused by such soil removal with said one end of the casing by allowing said casing to sink of its own weight farther and farther into the ground as said excavation is deepened by theremoval of said soil particles. i

4. A method of excavating with an apparatus including an elongated casing, a nozzle adjacent one end of said casing and an evacuation line having an inlet adjacent said one end, said excavating method comp1ising the steps of resting said one end of said casing against the ground, then heating the ground in the vicinity of said one end by directing steam at low pressure and velocity at said ground, then building a substantial positive pressure in saidv evacuation line, directing superheated steam under pressure at the ground, then creating a temporary vacuum in said evacuation lineat said one end of said casing to aid in tearing up the face of the ground and gouging particles of soil from the earth, and removing the particles of soil by passing them upwardly through said evacuation line and then penetrating the excavation caused by such soil removal with said one end of the casingby allowing said casing to sink of its own weight farther and farther into the ground as said excavation is deepened by the removal of soil particles.

5. A method of excavating with an apparatus including an elongated casing, a nozzle adjacent one end of said casing and an evacuation line having an inlet adjacent said one end, said excavating method comprising the steps of resting said one end of said casing against the ground, then heating the ground in the vicinity of said one end by directing steam at low pressure and velocity at said ground, then building a substantial positive pressure in said evacuation line, directing said superheated steam under pressure at the ground for a period of time of the order of magnitude of about three minutes, then discontinuing the direction of steam from said nozzle and passing a cryogenic fluid outward away from said one end of said casing, then creating a temporary vacuum in said evacuation line at said one end of said casing to aid in tearing up the face of the ground and gouging particles of soil from the earth, and removing the particles of soil by passing them upwardly through said evacuation line, and then penetrating the excavation caused by such soil removal with said one end of the casing by allowing said casing to sink of its own weight farther and farther into the ground as said excavation is deepend by the removal of soil particles.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS CHARLES OCONNELL, Primary Examiner. 

1. A METHOD OF EXCAVATING WITH AN APPARATUS INCLUDING AN ELONGATED CASING, A NOZZLE ADJACENT ONE END OF SAID CASING AND AN EVACUATION LINE HAVING AN INLET ADJACENT SAID ONE END, SAID EXCAVATING METHOD COMPRISING THE STEPS OF RESTING SAID ONE END OF SAID CASING AGAINST THE GROUND, THEN HEATING THE GROUND IN THE VICINITY OF SAID ONE END BY DIRECTING STEAM AT LOW PRESSURE AND VELOCITY AT SAID GROUND, THEN BUILDING THE PRESURE IN SAID EVACUATION LINE TO A VALUE OF BETWEEN ABOUT 150 AND 250 P.S.I.G., THEN DIRECTING SUPERHEATED STEAM AT THE GROUND FROM SAID NOZZLE AT OPERATING TEMPERATURES AND PRESSURES RANGING BETWEEN ABOUT 500 TO 900*F. AND BETWEEN ABOUT 600 TO 950 P.S.I.G., RELEASING THE STEAM THROUGH SAID EVACUATION LINE TO THEREBY CREATE A TEMPORARY VACUUM AT SAID ONE END OF SAID CASING TO AID IN TEARING UP THE FACE OF THE GROUND AND GOUGING PARTICLES OF SOIL FROM THE EARTH, AND REMOVING THE PARTICLES OF SOIL BY PASSING THEM UPWARDLY THROUGH SAID EVACUATION LINE, AND THEN PENETRATING THE EXCAVATION CAUSED BY SUCH SOIL REMOVAL WITH SAID ONE END OF THE CASING BY ALLOWING SAID CASING TO SINK OF ITS OWN WEIGHT FARTHER AND FARTHER INTO THE GROUND AS SAID EXCAVATION IS DEEPENED BY THE REMOVAL OF SOIL PARTICLES. 